Transfer mechanism



Aug. 28, 1956 T. E. PIAZZE 2,760,320

TRANSFER MECHANISM Original Filed March 12, 1949 INVEN TOR.

Wanda 6W2? BY WMrWaz United States Patent TRANSFER MECHANISM Thomas E.Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, toContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original application March 12, 1949, Serial No. 81,154, now Patent2,676,443, dated April 27, 1954. Divided and this application May 25,1953, Serial'No. 357,151

6 Claims. (Cl. 53-183) This invention is concerned with improvements ina mechanism for automatically transferring a container or bag formed ofpliable sheet material from a container forming machine to a machine forfilling the container with a commodity and closing and sealing the same.

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 81,154, filedMarch 12, 1949, for 2. Container Filling, Closing and Sealing Machine,now Patent Number 2,676,- 443, granted April 27, 1954.

It is an object of the invention to provide a transfer mechanism forsuccessively removing open ended tubular merchandise containers from acontainer making machine and for depositing the same in the pockets ofan endless conveyor on a filling and closing machine which is arrangedat the discharge end of the container making machine.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the mechanism which is shown by way of illustration inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mechanism embodying the principles of theinvention, with portions only of the associated container making machineand container filling and closing machine being shown;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a mechanism fortransferring to a container filling and closing machine, containersformed on a container fabricating machine of the type in which a seriesof mandrels are carried on an endless conveyor and sheets of containermaking material are folded over the ends of the mandrels to form flatbottom containers having vertical side seams. After a sheet of materialis folded over a mandrel and the seams are sealed the container isadapted to be removed from the mandrel in the horizontal direction,generally with the widest side of the container extending crosswise ofthe machine.

The transfer mechanism is so constructed that the containers aresuccessively stripped from the mandrels of the fabricating machine andtransferred to mandrels or pockets on a conveyor for the filling andclosing machine, which conveyor is arranged to advance the emptycontainers to mechanism where each container is filled, closed andsealed. The filling and closing machine is provided with appropriatedrive mechanism for direct connection with the drive mechanism of thecontainer fabricating machine or it is operated by independent drivemechanism with appropriate means for synchronizing the movement of thecontainer receiving conveyor thereof with the movement of the mandrelcarrying conveyor of the container fabricating machine.

The filling and closing mechanisms are supported on a generallyrectangular frame which comprises a base having upstanding front andrear side frame members 12 and 13 which are laterally spaced at thereceiving end of the machine, and top front and rear side plates 16 andPatented Aug. 28, 1956 17 which extend longitudinally of the machine andconnect the upstanding side frame members 12 and 13 with similar sideframe members at the discharge end of the machine. The top side plates16 and 17 are connected at their ends to side frame members of thecontainer fabricating machine 18 by horizontal connecting plates 19 and20 which extend between the side frame members of the container machineand the plates 21 and 22 depending from the ends of the frame members 16and 17.

The conveyor for the filling and closing machine comprises a pair oftransversely spaced endless chains 23 which are carried on spaced pairsof sprockets at the ends of the machine, the sprockets 24 at thereceiving end of the machine being shown. The sprockets 24 are securedto the driven shaft 26 which is journaled in the side frame members 12and 13. The endless chains 23 are connected at longitudinally spacedintervals by transversely extending pairs of rods 29 which supportintermediate their ends a series of hollow mandrels 30 for receiving andcarrying the containers. Each mandrel 30 comprises a base 31 secured onthe supporting rods 29 and having a circular plate 34 rotatably securedto its outer face by a pivot pin 33. The base 31 and the plate 34 areeach provided with relatively large apertures 36 and 39 which arealigned in the position shown in Fig. 3, during the transfer of thecontainers. The bottom or inner face of the base 31 is curved at 37 inthe direction transversely of the same. A cover plate 54 is secured onthe outer or upper face of the plate 34 and carries outwardly projectingpocket forming members 55. The members 55 form a hollow tube section forreceiving the container or bag, and the cover plate 54 is perforated orprovided with apertures 56 within the hollow tube section whichcommunicate with apertures 39 and 36 so that in the two positions whichthe plate 34 is adapted to occupy there is a communicating passagewaybetween the bottom of the bag supporting members 55 and the curvedbottom 37 of the base member 31.

The chains 23 on which the mandrels 30 are mounted are intermittentlymoved by operation of the shaft 26 which carries the sprockets 24 at thereceiving end of the machine. The shaft 26 is provided with a gear 57adjacent the front side of the frame member 12 which meshes with thegear 58 on' the transverse shaft 59. The shaft 59 is journaled in theframe members 12 and 13 and is provided on its other end with a Genevamechanism comprising a driven element 60 and the continuously operatingdriving element 61 provided on the shaft 62.

The shaft 62 is provided with a gear 63 on the inside of the frame 13which meshes with the pinion 64 on the shaft 65 which is journaled inthe side frame members 12 and 13. Shaft 65 is provided with a sprocket66, on the outside of the frame member 13, which is connected by a chain67 to the drive sprocket 68 on the stub shaft 69. An idler sprocket 70is supported on a bracket 71 which is adjustably mounted on a side frame13 and provides tension in the chain 67.

The stub shaft 69 is journaled on the side frame mem-' ber 13 andcarries a sprocket 72 which is connected by a drive chain 73 to thepower drive shaft of the container fabricating machine 18 and whichsupplies driving power for operating the filling and closing mechanismin timed relation to the movement of the mandrels 74 on the containerfabricating machine 18.

The mandrels 30 are adapted to be operated in such a manner that theywill be brought successively to a point or station at the receiving endof the machine where the pocket forming members 55 extend outwardly inalignment with a transverse chute 75. The chute '75 is horizontallypositioned somewhat lower than the mandrel 74 on the container machine18 when the latter is in position for removal of the container. Thechute 75 V v 3 7 provides a passageway for the containers as they arestripped successively from the mandrels 74 and transferred to the pocketforming members 55.

Thechute 7-5 comprises a three sided or'channelwshaped member 76supported -on the cross bar 77 which I'isradjustably mounted -at-itsends on theside connecting plates IS-and?!) by bolts 78 and'spaced bolthol'es 78'.i The chute 75 is.-provided with-a movable side 79 which 'issecured to a pivoted-crossbarffit). The cross bar-80 'is journaled inthe upstanding side :plates -81 which are connected at their base-to'thesideconnecting plates 19 and 20. An arm $2--is secured-on one end-of the cross bar 81) and pivotally connected to the upper end of a link83, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to an operating arm84. -The;arm 84 is pivotally secured to the =-frame vmember 1-3}at 85and provided with 'cam roller86 engaging thecam-87-1n0unted on thestub'shaft 69; adjacent the driving sprogflret -7-2.

When the container receiving mandrel 30 is positioned at the containerreceiving-station-in line with the transverse -chute 7-5 the curvedbottom surface 37 of the mandrel base 31 engages with the curved openend 89 of the forward portion 90 of a vacuum tunnel which -is supportedby a bracket 91 depending fromthe cross ''rail 92 which extends betweenthe-frame members 12 and 1-3. The vacuum tunnel extends toward thecenter of the machine and is connected with a suction pump (not shown)whichmay be motor driven or operated in any other conventional manner toprovide suction in the tunnel 90 sufiicient to pull the containerthrough the transverse chute 75 into the receiving pocket '55 on themandrel 30. A The containercarrying mandrel 30 is thereafter-moved fromthe container receiving-station'to a filling station to receive thematerial being packaged. v

-In operation the container; fabricating machine'18 intermit tentlyforms the containers around the mandrels 74 and successively presentsthe mandrels in horizontal alignment with one end of the transversechute 75. The

filling and closing machine operates intermittently in timed relationtothe operation of the fabricating machine 18, through the connectingdrive mechanism, to present successive pocket formations 55 on the'rnandrels ;30 -in horizontal alignment with the other end 'of thetransverse chute :75. The containers as they areformed are successivelytransferred through the chute 75 to they pocket 55 by suction inthevacuum line 90. The-chute wall '79 is swung upwardly to vprovideclearance for the mandrel 2 50 as it moves upwardly away from the chute75 after the container is transferred. The pocket formations '55 arepivoted so that they may be rotated relative to the base 31 to properlyposition the-same for receiving the container and to permitsubsequent-rotation of the container for the filling-and closingoperations.

I claim: v H p 1. In a container fabricating and filling arrangementwherein afiat bottom container is fabricated on a machine having amovable forming mandrel and then transferred to a machine having apocketed -conveyor'for receiving a charge of material, a containertransfer mechanism comprising a chute mounted between the -macliines inaligned relation between said forming mandrel and a pocket insaidtpoeketed conveyor when said mandrel and said conveyor are in avpredetermined position substantially at rest, 'means for movingsuccessive containers from said forming-mandrel and through the chuteinto successive pockets in said pocketed'conveyor, said chute having aswingable wall and means for-moving said 'wall away from said-chutein-timed relation to th'e movement of saidpocketed conveyor.

-2. Mechanism for transferring successive containers from a containerfabricating machine having "a 'series of forming mandrels "mounted inspaced relation on an intermittently operated c'ehveyor and cooperatingmeans for folding sheet material around sii'iscessive nia'ndrl's to formthereon flat bottom containers, to a container filling and closingmachine which is arranged in longitudinal alignment with saidfabricating machine and which has an intermittently operated conveyorand a series of pocketed mandrels mounted in spaced relation thereon,said mechanismcb'mprising a horizontal chute extending between"said'rnachin'es 'ahd p'rbviding a conguideway between said mandrels,said chute havti' o'ted upper side, mean for "operating saidtna- Herebyto align "said forming mandrels with successive pocketed mandrels at 'atransfer station between Eadja'cent e'lids 6f the machines, meansconnected to s aid operating -r'ne'ar'1s fo'r pivoting said 'sid'e'intifned felatioh to the moveine'iit of said conveyors, and "vacuummeans at said transferstation, which vacuum means is connected tosuccessive pocketed mandrels when they are in alignment with the formingmandrels at the transfer station for moving the containers tram saidfori'ning mandrels through said chute andinto said poelttd lfiH'ndi'lS.

- -3Aln' a container fabricating and filling meehaiii'sm wherein a'fiatbo'ttom container is fab'nc'a'tcdon a movable Pfonnin mandrel andthen transferred to a supporting mandrl on a movable conveyor h'avinga-filliirg mechanism associated therewith, a container t'r'a'nsifermechanism comprising a chute -mounted-at a transfer station' at whichsuccessive forming and supportin'g m'an- 'drels are brought into alignedrelation, means for moving the container from the forming mandrel andthrough the chute into a supporting mandrel on said movable conveyor,means forming 'a passageway connected with the bottom'of'saidsu'pporting mandrels whe'n said supporting mandrels are in apredetermined position relatiVe -tos'aid transfer station, and vacuummeans for 'applyingsuction in said passageway. t

' 4. A container transfer mechanism comprising-a t'ransfer chutepositioned between a container fabr'icatin g mechanism and a'containe'rfilling mechanism, the con'taiher fabricating mechanism dieing adaptedtoforrn successive fiat bottom containers in cpe'ned'u'pcondition 'and tposition the same with the bott'omat'one end o said t ansfer chute, thecontainer filling machine having -as'e'ries of pocket forming open topreceptacle members mounted on an intermittently operated endlessconveyor which is positioned with "ohe end adjacent said transfer'kh'ute to bring 'theopen 'tops'ofsuccessiv'e receptacles int'oalignme'nt'with the' othe'r end of saidtransfercliiite to eeiyesuccessive containers 'the'rein, said transfer chute having a pivotedsidewall portion,'a'ndmeansfor piyoting said side wall :portion inti'r'ned relation to the movement of said conveyor to provi'cle-a'nopening in the side wall-"for passage bf the top portion'ofthe containerwhen the etim tainer is delivered through the transfer ch'ute and tliebottom= portion thereof is seated in a pocket f'or ir'iing receptacle;

5. A container transfer mechanism comprisin'g a transfer chutepositioned 'between --a container fabricating mechanism and a containerfilling mechanism, the con tainer fabricating mechanism having anintermittently operated endless 'conveyo'rand associatedmeclrahismiforforming thereon successive flat bottom containers in opened-upcondition-andcne. 'end of'said conveyor'beih g adjacent said transferchuteto position=each sucessive container "with thebottom atone endof'sa'idtransfer chute, the container fillingm'achine having a 's'eries'of poc ket'forrning'open top receptacle members mounted on anintermittently operated endl'ess 1 conveyor which is arranged withoneend -a'djacent-'said transferch'ute to bring the open tops ofsu'ccessive-"receptales intoalignment with the other end ofthetfa'hsfer-bhute'toreceive fife bottom portions of successivecontainers therein, said tra' 'sfer chute having a movable side Wallportion, "and means *for movih'g' said side wall portion in timed"relation to tiie nioveiilentof said" conveyors to'pr'ovide an openingin the sidewall'for passage ofthe top'p'or'tio'n of each 5 container asit is delivered through the transfer chute and the bottom portionthereof is received in a pocket forming receptacle.

6. A container transfer mechanism comprising a transfer chute positionedhorizontally between a container fabricating mechanism and a containerfilling mechanism,

the container fabricating mechanism having a horizontal endless conveyorand associated mechanism for forming thereon successive fiat bottomcontainers in opened up condition and for positioning the same with thebottom thereof at one end of said transfer chute, the container fillingmachine having a series of open top receptacle members mounted on ahorizontal conveyor which is arranged with one end adjacent saidtransfer chute to bring the open tops of successive receptacles intoalignment with the other end of said transfer chute to receivesuccessive containers therein, said transfer chute having a pivotedupper side wall portion, and means for pivoting said side wall portionupwardly in timed relation to the movement of said conveyors to providean opening in the side wall for passage of the top portions of thecontainers as the containers are delivered through the transfer chuteand into the open top receptacles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,379,254 Ekstrom May 24, 1921 1,851,870 Rose Mar. 29, 1932 2,427,712Casler Sept. 23, 1947

